User Guide. Linksys EA-Series

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Product overview

EA2700 . . . .1

EA3500 . . . .3

EA4500 . . . .6

Setting Up: Basics

How to create a home network. . . .9

What is a network? 9 How to set up a home network 9

Where to find more help . . . .9

How to set up your router . . . .9

How to start Cisco Connect 10

How to improve your wireless connection speed . . . . 11

How to test your Internet connection speed . . . . 11

How to connect devices to your network . . . . 12

How to connect a computer to your network 12 How to connect a printer 14 How to connect other devices 14

How to set up parental controls . . . . 15

How to access parental controls 16 How to select the computers to have parental controls 17 How to set parental controls 17

How to set up guest access to your network . . . . 18

How to change your router’s name and password. . . . 19

Setting Up: Advanced

How to open the browser-based utility . . . . 20

How to manually set up your router. . . . 21

How to manually set up your Internet connection 21

How to get the most out of your dual-band router . . . . 22

How to set up the DHCP server on your router . . . . 24

How to set up DHCP reservation 25

How to find your network on the Internet. . . . 25

How to clone a MAC address . . . . 26

How to connect to your corporate office using a VPN . . . . 27

How to optimize your router for gaming and voice . . . . 27

How to remotely change your router settings . . . . 29

How to enable Voice over IP on your network . . . . 30

How to configure UPnP . . . . 30

How to use a router as an access point . . . . 31

How to put your new router behind an existing router. . . . 32

To add your router to an existing router or gateway 32 To share an Internet connection 33 To extend your network 34

How to expose a device to the Internet . . . . 35

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Improving Security

How do I know if my network is secure? . . . . 37

Network security following a manual setup. . . . 37

How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup . . 38

Wi-Fi Protected Setup activity light 38

Connecting a device using the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button 38 How to connect a device using its Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39 How to connect a device using the router’s Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39

How to connect a device manually 39

How to control access to your wireless network . . . . 40

How to improve security using the built-in firewall 41

Using an External Drive

How to configure storage . . . . 43

How to create shared folders 43

How to manage group and user access to shared folders 44

How to create a group 44

How to create a new user 45

How to grant group access to a share 46

How to configure your router’s storage for remote access. . . . 47

How to configure the FTP server 47

How to share folders and set access rights 48

How to access files remotely . . . . 49

How to set up your router as a media server . . . . 49

How to connect your UPnP device to the media server 51

Port Forwarding and Port Triggering

How to set up port forwarding . . . . 52

How to set up port forwarding for a single port 52 How to set up port forwarding for multiple ports 53 How to set up port forwarding for a range of ports 53

How to set up port range triggering for online gaming . . . . . 54

How to configure your Xbox for online gaming . . . . 55

Maintaining and Monitoring

How to back up and restore your router configuration. . . . 56

How to restore factory defaults 56

How to upgrade the router’s firmware . . . . 57

How to check the status of your router. . . . 58

How to disable the Ethernet port status lights 59

How to test your Internet connection 60

How to configure and use logs 61

Browser-based Utility Menu Structure

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Product overview

EA2700

Package contents

In addition to your router, your router package includes: • Network (Ethernet) cable

• AC power adapter

• Setup CD containing router setup software and documentation

Features

Wireless-N technology

Built with leading 802.11n technology, create a powerful home wireless network with double the capacity for surfing the Internet, streaming multimedia, and running applications simultaneously. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, smartphones, and other Wi-Fi devices at fast transfer rates for an unrivaled experience.

The power of dual band

Double your network bandwidth with simultaneous dual-band N (2.4 and 5 GHz). The dual-band feature is designed to avoid interference and optimize throughput for smoother and faster HD video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming.

Advanced security

Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA2 encryption and SPI firewall to help keep your network protected.

Benefits of gigabit

Use the four Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) ports for quick file sharing (up to 10× faster than standard Ethernet) between other Gigabit-enabled devices like computers and servers.

Network ready

Connect computers, printers, scanners, and more to your wireless network and the Internet. QoS traffic prioritization technology delivers maximum speed and performance so you can enjoy fast downloads and reliable VoIP.

Easy to manage

Cisco Connect software helps you customize your settings and quickly add multiple devices to your network:

Separate guest network

Create a separate, password-protected network for guests.

Parental controls

Limit access time and websites with parental controls.

IPv6 enabled

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Back view

Ethernet ports Wi-Fi Protected Setup button Internet port

Power port Power indicator

• Ethernet ports—Connect Ethernet cables (also called network cables)

to these Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) ports, color coded blue, and to wired Ethernet network devices on your network.

NoTE

For best performance, use CAT5E or higher rated cables on the Ethernet ports.

• Internet port—Connect an Ethernet cable (also called a network or

Internet cable) to this port, color coded yellow, and to your modem. • Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button—Press this button to easily configure

wireless security on Wi-Fi Protected Setup-enabled network devices. For more information, see “How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup” on page 38.

• Power indicator—Stays on steadily while power is connected and

following a successful Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes slowly during bootup, during firmware upgrades, and during a Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes quickly when there is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup error.

• Power—Connect the included AC power adapter to this port.

CAUTIoN

Use only the adapter that came with your router.

Port activity indicator

Green network activity indicator Yellow network

activity indicator

Network or Internet port

• Green network activity indicator—On Ethernet ports, turns on when a

cable connects the port to another Gigabit Ethernet port. On the Internet port, turns on while connected to a modem.

• Yellow activity indicator—Flashes to indicate network activity over

that port.

Bottom view

• Reset button—Press and hold this button for 5-15 seconds (until the

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EA3500

Package contents

Features

Wireless-N technology

Built with leading 802.11n technology, create a powerful home wireless network optimized for video, music, and multi-player gaming. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, smartphones, and other Wi-Fi devices at blazingly fast transfer rates for an unrivaled experience.

The power of dual band

SpeedBoost

Higher quality antenna technology helps maintain high speeds across greater distances throughout your home.

Advanced security

Benefits of gigabit

Built-in USB port

The USB port lets you add an external USB drive to your network and share files at home or over the Internet. You can also connect a USB printer and share it across your network.

Home theater ready

Bring the ultimate entertainment experience to your home by connecting computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, media players, and more to your wireless network and the Internet. Simultaneous dual-band N and QoS traffic prioritization technology delivers maximum speed and performance so you can enjoy fast downloads, smooth video and music streaming, and reliable gaming and VoIP.

Easy to manage

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Parental controls

IPv6 enabled

Supports the latest Internet protocol technology to future-proof your network.

Back view

Ethernet ports Wi-Fi Protected Setup button Internet port

Power port Power indicator USB port

• USB port—To easily share disk storage with other users on your network

or on the Internet, connect a USB drive to this port. For more information, see “Using an External Drive” on page 43. You can also connect a USB printer and share it across your network. For more information, see “How to connect a printer” on page 14.

to these Gigabit (10/100/1000) ports, color coded blue, and to wired Ethernet network devices on your network.

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Internet cable) to this port, color coded yellow, and to your modem.

• Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button—Press this button to easily configure

• Power indicator—Stays on steadily while power is connected and

following a Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes slowly during bootup, during firmware upgrades, and during a Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes quickly when there is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup error. • Power—Connect the included AC power adapter to this port.

CAUTIoN

Port activity indicators

activity indicator

• Yellow activity indicator—Flashes to indicate network activity over

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Bottom view

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EA4500

Package contents

Features

Wireless-N technology

Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, your router offers maximum speed and range to create an ultra-powerful network designed for home theater performance. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, smartphones and other Wi-Fi devices at blazingly fast transfer rates for an unrivaled experience.

The power of dual band

SpeedBoost

Higher quality antenna technology helps maintain high speeds across greater distances throughout your home.

Advanced security

Benefits of gigabit

Built-in USB port and DLNA media server

The USB storage port lets you add an external USB drive to your network and share files at home or over the Internet. It also features a built-in DLNA media server for seamless streaming of your video and media files to an Xbox 360, PS3, or other DLNA-compatible device. You can also connect a USB printer and share it across your network.

Home theater ready

Bring the ultimate entertainment experience to your home by connecting computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, media players, and more to your wireless network and the Internet. Simultaneous dual-band N and QoS traffic prioritization technology delivers maximum speed and performance so you can enjoy fast downloads, smooth video and music streaming, and reliable gaming and VoIP.

Quick to install

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IPv6 enabled

Supports the latest Internet protocol technology to future-proof your network.

Easy to manage

Separate guest network

Create a separate, password-protected network for guests.

Parental controls

Top view

Indicator light

• Indicator light—Stays on steadily while power is connected and

following a successful Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Pulses slowly during bootup, during firmware upgrades, and during a Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes quickly when there is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup error.

Back view

Ethernet ports

Wi-Fi Protected Setup button

Internet port Power port Reset button USB port

to these Gigabit (10/100/1000) ports, color coded blue, and to wired Ethernet network devices on your network.

NoTE

Internet cable) to this port, color coded yellow, and to your modem. • Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button—Press this button to easily configure

• USB port—To easily share disk storage with other users on your network

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port lights flash at the same time) to reset the router to its factory defaults. You can also restore the defaults using the browser-based utility. For more information, see “How to restore factory defaults” on page 56. • Power—Connect the included AC power adapter to this port.

CAUTIoN

Port activity indicators

activity indicator

• Yellow network activity indicator—Flashes to indicate network activity

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How to create a home network

For ALL

What is a network?

A network is any group of devices that can communicate with each other. A home network can also include Internet access, which requires a router like this one.

A typical home network may include multiple computers, a printer, a modem, and a router. A large home network may also have a switch, additional routers, access points, and many Internet-capable media devices such as TVs, game consoles, and web cameras.

• Modem—Connects a computer or a router to your ISP (Internet Service

Provider).

• Router—Connects your wireless and wired network devices to each

other and to the modem (and to your ISP).

• Switch—Allows you to connect several wired network devices to your

home network. Your router has a built-in network switch (the Ethernet ports). If you have more wired network devices than available Ethernet ports on your router, you will need an additional switch to consolidate the wired connections.

How to set up a home network

1. Purchase the proper equipment. For a network that includes Internet

access, you’ll need:

• Computers with an Ethernet port or wireless networking capabilities • A modem for connecting to your ISP (typically supplied by your ISP) • A router to connect your computers with each other and to the modem • Internet service to your home, provided by an ISP (Internet Service

Provider)

2. Make sure that your modem is working. Your ISP can help you set up your

modem and verify that it’s working correctly.

3. Set up your router. See “How to set up your router” on page 9.

4. To connect a computer or other network device to the network, see

“How to connect a computer to your network” on page 12 and “How to connect other devices” on page 14.

Where to find more help

For ALL

In addition to this User Guide, you can find help at these locations:

• Linksys.com/support (documentation, downloads, FAQs, technical

support, live chat, forums)

• Setup CD (Troubleshooting Guide, legal and regulatory notices)

• Cisco Connect help (run Cisco Connect, then click Learn More where available)

• Browser-based utility context-sensitive help (open the utility, then click

Help in the right-side column.)

How to set up your router

For ALL

The easiest and fastest way to set up your router is to run the Cisco Connect setup software. You can find Cisco Connect on the CD that came with your router or download it from the router’s support site at Linksys.com/support. Cisco Connect shows you how to connect your router to your home network, step by step. To get started, see “How to start Cisco Connect” below.

If you are an advanced user, you can set up your router manually using the browser-based utility. To get started, see “How to open the browser-based utility” on page 20.

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How to start Cisco Connect

When you run the setup CD, Cisco Connect (your router’s setup software) is automatically installed onto your computer. You can then use Cisco Connect to easily manage your router. To install Cisco Connect on another computer after your router has been set up, see “How to install Cisco Connect on another computer” on page 12.

NoTES:

Your Cisco Connect CD works with only this router model. If you lose your setup CD, you can download the software from

Linksys.com/support.

To start Cisco Connect for the first time: 1. Insert the CD into your CD or DVD drive. 2. Click Set up your Linksys Router.

If you do not see this:

• For Windows, click Start, Computer, then double-click the CD drive and the Setup icon.

• For Mac, double-click the CD icon on your desktop, then double-click the Setup icon.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your router setup. When

setup has finished, Cisco Connect has also been installed onto your hard drive.

After your router has been set up and Cisco Connect has been installed, you can use Cisco Connect to easily manage many of your router’s settings.

To start Cisco Connect on a Windows computer:

1. Click Start, All Programs, then click Cisco Connect. The Cisco Connect

main menu opens.

To start Cisco Connect on a Mac oS X computer:

1. Open the Applications folder, then double-click the Cisco Connect

icon. The Cisco Connect main menu opens.

To install Cisco Connect on another computer:

1. See “How to connect a computer using an Easy Setup Key” on page 12.

When finished, Cisco Connect has also been installed onto the computer’s hard drive.

CAUTIoN

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How to improve your wireless connection

speed

For ALL

Follow these tips to improve your network’s wireless connection speed: • Make sure that your router is in a good location:

• For the widest coverage area, install your router near the center of your home, and near the ceiling, if possible.

• Avoid placing the router on or near metal objects (such as file cabinets and metal furniture), reflective surfaces (such as glass or mirrors), or masonry walls.

• Any obstruction can weaken the wireless signal (even non-metallic objects), so the fewer obstructions between the router and the wireless device, the better.

• Place the router in a location away from other electronics, motors, and fluorescent lighting.

• Many environmental variables can affect the router’s performance, so if your wireless signal is weak, place the router in several locations and test the signal strength to determine the ideal position.

• If possible, upgrade wireless network interfaces (such as wireless network cards in computers) from older wireless standards to 802.11n. If a wirelessly networked device uses an older standard, the performance of the entire wireless network may be slower.

How to test your Internet connection

speed

For ALL

To test your Internet connection speed:

1. Run Cisco Connect, then click Change under Router settings. The Router

settings screen opens.

2. Click Launch Test under Internet Speed. The Internet speed test screen

opens.

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How to connect devices to your network

For ALL

How to connect a computer to your network

You can connect a computer to your network using an Easy Setup Key (the easiest way) or manually.

How to connect a computer using an Easy Setup Key

To use an Easy Setup Key, you first need to create one using any available USB drive. After it has been created, you can use the same key to connect several computers to your network.

TIP

The Easy Setup Key stores network information (name, password, security type, and security key) so you don’t have to remember them.

To create an Easy Setup Key:

1. Run Cisco Connect, then click Add device under Computers and devices.

The Computers and other devices screen opens.

2. Click Computer.

3. Select No, I don’t have an Easy Setup Key, then click Next.

4. Insert a USB drive into an available USB port on your computer. This USB

drive will be your new Easy Setup Key.

Cisco Connect detects the newly attached USB drive and copies the router’s settings and a copy of Cisco Connect to it.

5. When the files have finished copying, remove the Easy Setup Key from

your computer. You can now use it to install Cisco Connect onto other computers and to connect them to the network.

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To use your Easy Setup Key to connect a computer to your network: 1. Run Cisco Connect, then click Add device under Computers and devices.

3. Select Yes, I have an Easy Setup Key, then click Next. The Connecting

another computer screen opens.

4. Insert the Easy Setup Key into an available USB port on the computer that

you want to connect to the network. The Connecting another computer screen opens.

If you do not see this, use Windows Explorer or Finder to view the Easy Setup Key files, then double-click Connect.

5. Click Connect to your router, then follow the on-screen instructions. 6. Return to the computer running Cisco Connect, then click Next. 7. Enter a name for the newly connected computer, then click Finish.

How to connect a computer manually

To connect a computer without using an Easy Setup Key, you will need to print or take note of some information.

IMPoRTANT

When you manually connect a computer to the network, the computer will not have Cisco Connect installed on it.

To manually connect a computer to your network:

3. Select I want to connect manually using my wireless settings, then

click Next. A screen opens that displays network information.

4. Write down the Network name (SSID), Security Key, and Security Type

information, or click Print these settings if you have a printer attached.

5. At the computer you want to connect, enter the network information

into your wireless manager.

6. After that computer connects to your network, return to the computer

running Cisco Connect, then click Next.

7. Click Connect to your Linksys router, then follow the on-screen

instructions.

8. When you are prompted to enter a name for the newly connected

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How to connect a printer

When you install a printer that requires a cable, you can:

• Follow the printer’s instructions for setting it up, then follow your computer’s operating system instructions to share the printer with your network.

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Setting up your printer this way does not require Cisco Connect. OR

-• If your router is a Linksys EA3500 or EA4500, you can connect a USB printer to the router’s USB port to make the printer available to any networked computer.

When you set up a wireless printer, you need to make sure that:

• Your printer has been completely set up except for being connected to the network.

• Your printer supports the WPA/WPA2 wireless encryption standard. • If your wireless printer supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), you should

use WPS to connect it to your network. See “How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup” on page 38.

To connect a wireless printer to your network:

2. Click Printer, then click Wireless printer. A screen opens that displays

network information.

information, or click Print these settings if you have a different printer already connected.

4. Follow your printer’s instructions for entering the wireless network

information into your printer.

5. After the printer connects to your network, click Next in Cisco Connect. 6. Return to the computer running Cisco Connect, then click Next. The

Name your printer screen opens.

7. Enter a name for the printer, then click Finish.

8. Follow your computer operating system’s instructions for adding the

new printer to your list of available printers.

To connect a USB printer to your network through the router’s USB port:

For EA3500 EA4500

2. Click Printer, then click USB Printer.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions for connecting the printer. This process

may take several minutes.

4. Repeat Steps 1-3 on each computer you want to print from. For

information on installing Cisco Connect onto other computers, see “To install Cisco Connect on another computer:” on page 10.

How to connect other devices

Many other types of wireless network devices can connect to your home network, including:

• Game consoles

• Internet-capable TVs and media players • Digital music players

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Because of the wide variety of devices and methods of connecting, you must manually enter network information into the devices for a successful network connection.

To manually connect a device to your network:

2. Click other wireless devices. A screen opens that displays network

information.

information, or click Print these settings if you have a printer attached.

4. Follow your device’s instructions for entering the wireless network

information into the device.

5. After the device connects to your network, return to the computer

running Cisco Connect, then click Next.

6. Enter a name for device, then click Finish.

For more instructions on connecting a game console to your network, see also: • “How to optimize your router for gaming and voice” on page 27

• “How to set up port forwarding” on page 52

• “How to set up port range triggering for online gaming” on page 54

How to set up parental controls

For ALL

With your router, you can use parental controls to: • Set the times that Internet access is allowed.

• Block websites that you specify or based on their content. • Set the above restrictions for specific computers.

TIPS

• You can also set parental controls in the browser-based utility by opening the Access Restrictionstab.

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How to access parental controls

The first time you try to access parental controls, you are asked to set a password.

To access parental controls for the first time:

1. Run Cisco Connect, then click Change under Parental controls. The

Parental controls password screen opens.

2. Enter a password (from 4 to 32 characters), then enter a secret question

and answer.

• The password must contain from 4 to 32 valid characters, which are A-Z, a-z, and 0-9.

• The answer to the secret question should be something not easily guessed by others. If you forget your password, you can reset it by correctly answering your secret question.

3. To save your settings, click oK. The Parental controls main screen appears. To access parental controls after the first time:

1. Run Cisco Connect, then click Change under Parental controls. The

Enter the parental controls password screen opens.

2. Enter the parental control password, then click oK.

NoTE

If you forgot the password, click I forgot my password and enter the answer to your secret question.

The Parental controls main screen appears.

To change the parental controls password:

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How to select the computers to have parental

controls

It’s not necessary to set parental controls over each computer on your home network. You can set the controls on only those computers that children can access.

To select computers that will have parental controls:

1. In the Parental controls main screen, click + (add) under the Restrict

Internet access on box.

2. Click the computer name, then click oK. The computer is added to the

list of computers with parental controls.

3. To remove parental controls from a computer, click the computer name

in the Restrict Internet access on box, then click – (remove).

How to set parental controls

1. In the Parental controls main screen, click the computer name to set

parental controls for.

2. Under Block Internet access, specify when the computer’s Internet access

will be blocked:

• Never does not block Internet access.

• Always blocks Internet access at all times.

• Specific times blocks Internet access only during specific times. If you

select this option, set the schedule for School nights (Monday through Friday) and Weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

3. To create or change a list of specific websites to block, click Edit next to

Block specific sites. The Block these sites screen opens.

a. On a blank line, enter a website address that you want to block. b. Click Save to save the list and return to the Parental controls main

screen.

4. To save your changes, click Finish.

5. Repeat the above steps for each computer that you want to set parental

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How to set up guest access to your

network

For ALL

You can use your router’s guest access feature to provide your guests with access to the Internet, while restricting their access to other resources on your local network. The guest network is shown as an open, unsecure wireless network that your guests can easily connect to. To prevent unauthorized users from using your Internet access, your guest network requires that a password be entered for Internet access. The guest network is enabled by default.

web browser - guest access login - Linksys E4200 http://mynetwork/guest/login Enter the Guest Password for Internet Access:

Login

X _

Done File Edit View Go Shortcuts Options Help

X http://mynetwork/guest/login

Enter the Guest Password for Internet Access:

Login

Guest Network Local Network

Local Access and Guest Access Diagram

To set up guest access to your network:

1. Run Cisco Connect, then click Change under Guest Access. The Guest

Access screen opens.

2. Under Allow guest access, click yes (default) to allow guest Internet

access. Otherwise, click no to disable guest access.

3. Take note of the Guest account’s network name and password. You will

need to provide this information to your guests. TIPS

To keep your guest network secure, click Change to change the guest password when the guest no longer needs access to the account.

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4. In the Total guests allowed drop-down box, select the number of

simultaneous guest network users you want to allow.

5. Click Finish to apply your changes.

TIP

The first time your guest tries to access the Internet through a web browser, they will see the Guest access screen. To continue, they must enter the password you provided in the Password field, then click LoGIN.

How to change your router’s name and

password

For ALL

You can change the name and password of your router, but if you do so, all wireless devices connected to your router will lose their Internet connection until you reconnect them using the new router name and password.

CAUTIoN

If you change your router’s name and password using the browser-based utility, you may not be able to manage your router using Cisco Connect. We recommend using the procedure below to change your router’s login information.

To change your router’s name and password:

1. Run Cisco Connect, then click Change under Router settings.

2. Under Personalize, click Change. A Changing router name and password

warning appears

3. Click Yes if you want to continue.

4. Enter the new router name and password, then click Change.

TIP

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How to open the browser-based utility

For ALL

To access some advanced settings, you need to open the browser-based utility. CAUTIoN

If you change settings in the browser-based utility, you might not be able to run Cisco Connect later.

To open the browser-based utility:

1. Run Cisco Connect, click Change under Router settings, click Advanced settings, then click oK.

– or –

Open a web browser on a computer connected to your network, then go to 192.168.1.1 or myrouter.local.

The router prompts you for a user name and password.

2. Enter the user name and password, then click oK. The utility’s main menu

opens. TIPS

If you set up your router without using Cisco Connect, your router’s default username and password is admin.

If you used Cisco Connect to set up your router, you can see your router’s user name and password by running Cisco Connect, then clicking Router settings.

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How to manually set up your router

For ALL

Although running Cisco Connect is the easiest way to set up and maintain your router, advanced users may want to manually configure their router. Be careful when changing settings using this method.

To manually set up your router:

1. If you have started the Cisco Connect setup, exit Cisco Connect. 2. Connect your router’s power adapter to a power outlet.

3. Connect an Ethernet cable to the computer and to an available numbered Ethernet (blue) port on the back of your router.

4. Open a web browser on the computer and open the address 192.168.1.1

or myrouter.local. A login window appears.

5. Enter admin as the user name, then enter the default password (admin).

The browser-based utility opens to the main menu.

6. After you finish changing settings, click Save Settings at the bottom of

the screen.

7. To exit the browser-based utility, close the web browser window.

TIP

For field descriptions, click Help in the right side of the screen.

How to manually set up your Internet connection

In most cases, Cisco Connect automatically sets up your Internet connection (see “How to start Cisco Connect” on page 10). For some ISPs (Internet Service Providers), especially those outside of the United States, you may need to manually configure your router’s Internet connection. Your router supports six types of Internet connections.

Basic Internet connection settings

To manually configure your router’s Internet connection:

Setup > Basic Setup

1. Log into the browser-based utility (see “How to open the browser-based

utility” on page 20).

2. Click the Setup tab, then click the Basic Setup page.

3. In the Internet Connection Type drop-down list, click the type of

Internet connection provided by your ISP. TIP

For field descriptions, click Help on the right side of the screen.

• Complete the fields required by your ISP.

• Complete the Optional Settings only if required by your ISP.

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IPv6 Internet connection settings

For ALL

IPv6 is a new IP protocol that uses simplified packet headers and requires IPSec. It also has improved support for mobile IP and computing devices. If your router model supports IPv6, an IPv6 Setup page is available under the Setup tab.

NoTE

To use your router’s IPv6 Internet connection settings, IPv6 service from your ISP (Internet service provider) is required. For more information on this service, ask your ISP.

To manually configure your router’s IPv6 settings:

Setup > IPv6 Setup

2. Click the Setup tab, then click the IPv6 Setup page.

3. IPv6 - Automatic—Select Enabled to automatically use IPv6 for all

network addressing.

4. 6rd Tunnel—Allows your router to send IPv6 IP addresses over IPv4

networks. To enable this option, IPv6 - Automatic must be set to

Disabled. To let your router handle the 6rd Tunnel settings (such as

prefixes and address masks), change the 6rd Tunnel setting to Automatic

Configuration. Select Manual Configuration to change these settings

manually.

• Prefix—Enter the prefix address used for the tunnel provided by your

ISP.

• Prefix Length—Enter the prefix length used for the tunnel provided

by your ISP.

• Border Relay—Enter the border relay address used for the tunnel

provided by your ISP.

• IPv4 Address Mask—Enter the IPv4 address mask length used for the

tunnel provided by your ISP.

5. Click Save Settings at the bottom of the page.

How to get the most out of your

dual-band router

For ALL

I bought a dual band router, but I’m not sure that I’m getting the most out of it. What should I check? Of the many reasons for owning a dual-band

router, the most common is to ensure available bandwidth for streaming high-definition video. At the same time, owners want to make sure that their video streams won’t be interrupted by other wireless network traffic. To get the most out of your dual-band router, you can:

• Upgrade your wireless clients • Split your traffic

Upgrade your wireless clients

If you have network adapters that support only legacy wireless network standards such as 802.11b, you should consider upgrading them with Wireless-N (802.11n) network adapters. Wireless-B (802.11b) devices can slow your entire wireless network. For the best performance, all of your wireless devices should support Wireless-N. You can then select Wireless-N Only as your Network Mode below.

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Split your traffic

The best way to improve your multimedia wireless performance is to split your wireless traffic between your router’s two bands (ranges of radio frequencies). Your router supports the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band, and handles the two bands as two separate wireless networks to help manage the traffic. The most common way to split wireless traffic is to use the 2.4 GHz band for basic Internet tasks such as web browsing, email, and downloads, and use the 5.0 GHz band for streaming multimedia. There are several reasons for this approach:

• Although the 2.4 GHz band may be more crowded with wireless traffic from your neighbors, it’s fine for basic Internet traffic that is not time-sensitive (such as e-mail).

• Even though you are connected to your own wireless network, you are still sharing “air time” with nearby networks.

• The 5 GHz band is much less crowded than the 2.4 GHz band, so it’s ideal for streaming multimedia.

• The 5 GHz band has more available channels, so it is more likely that you will have your own, interference-free channel for your wireless network. By default, your dual-band router uses the same network name on both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. If you are connecting to your router with a computer that has a dual-band wireless network adapter, you might not be able to determine which band you’re using. The easiest way to segment your traffic is to rename one of your wireless networks. With a separate, descriptive name, it will be easy to connect to the right network.

To reconfigure your wireless network:

Wireless > Wireless Settings

2. Click the Wireless tab, then click the Wireless Settings page.

3. Click Manual. This enables you to make changes to all of the fields below.

a. Network Mode—Your choice depends upon the clients that will

connect to your network. If all of your devices are Wireless-N capable, you can select Wireless-N Only for either or both bands.

On the 5 GHz band, you can select:

• Mixed (default), which accepts connections from 802.11a or

802.11n clients

• Wireless-A only (802.11a only)

• Wireless-N only (802.11n only)

• Disabled, which disables the 5.0 GHz band on this router

On the 2.4 GHz band, you can select: • Mixed • Wireless-B/G only • Wireless-B only • Wireless-G only • Wireless-N only • Disabled

b. Network Name (SSID)—Provide a unique SSID for your 5 GHz

wireless network. The name must not exceed 32 keyboard characters. In the example above, the 5 GHz wireless network was renamed

BronzeEagle5GHz.

c. Channel Width—We recommend that you keep the default

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• Your wireless clients support the 40 MHz mode (sometimes called Bonded mode) in which two 20 MHz channels are bonded together for better performance.

• There is no adjacent interference.

With more available channels and less chance of interference on the 5 GHz band, you have the option to force the 40MHz mode.

On the 5GHz band, you can select: • Auto (20 MHz or 40 Mhz)

• 20 MHz only

• 40 MHz only

On the 2.4 GHz band, you can select: • Auto (20 MHz or 40Mhz)

• 20 MHz only

d. Channel—Choose the operating channel for each band. Your

router will automatically select the channel with the least amount of interference if you leave the default Auto or Auto (DFS) setting. We recommend keeping the default settings for both bands.

e. SSID Broadcast—When wireless clients look for wireless networks to

connect to, they detect the SSID (wireless network name) broadcast by the router. To broadcast your router’s SSID, keep the default setting (Enabled). If you do not want to broadcast the router’s SSID, select

Disabled. We recommend keeping the default setting (Enabled) for

both bands.

f. Security Mode—The 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz networks can use different

security options. Select the security option for each wireless network. If the security mode you select requires a passphrase, aPassphrase

field appears, and you must enter a passphrase. TIP

Wireless-N networks should use the WP2-Personal security mode for best performance.

4. To apply your changes, click Save Settings at the bottom of the screen.

How to set up the DHCP server on your

router

For ALL

Your router can be used as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server to automatically assign an IP address to each computer or device on your network. The DHCP server is enabled by default. If you already have a DHCP server on your network, or if you do not want to use your router as a DHCP server, you should disable this setting.

To configure your router’s DHCP server settings:

Setup > Basic Setup > DHCP Server Settings

2. Click the Setup tab, then click the Basic Setup page.

3. Review the DHCP Server Setting fields (in the middle of the screen). You

can:

• Enable or disable the DHCP server.

• Change the starting address for the DHCP server. • Change the number of users (253 maximum).

4. If you change any of the settings, click Save Settings at the bottom of

the page.

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How to set up DHCP reservation

Why would I use it? DHCP reservation allows you to assign a unique, fixed IP

address to a specific device on your network. Assigning a fixed IP address is a good way to manage devices such as print servers, web cameras, network printers, and game consoles. A fixed IP address is also recommended if you want to use port forwarding for devices that need to receive inbound traffic from the Internet (“How to set up port forwarding” on page 52).

To configure DHCP reservation:

Setup > Basic Setup > DHCP Reservation

2. Click the Setup tab, then click the Basic Setup page. 3. Click DHCP Reservation (in the middle of the screen).

4. Click Select next to the client you want to create a DHCP reservation for. 5. Click Add Clients. The client you selected is added to the Clients Already

Reserved table.

You can also manually enter a client name, IP address, and MAC address of a device to create a DHCP reservation.

6. Click Save Settings.

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How to find your network on the Internet

For ALL

Why would I need to find my network on the Internet? If you want to

remotely access a USB drive attached to your router or view a web camera, you need to find your network on the Internet.

Working with several DDNS service providers, your router’s DDNS feature lets you configure a domain name for your network, which you can then use to easily find your network on the Internet. If your ISP changes your network’s IP address, the DDNS service providers detect the address change and continue to route your domain name to that address.

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Before you configure DDNS on your router, you must sign up for DDNS service from a DDNS service provider that’s supported by your router.

To set up DDNS:

Setup > DDNS

1. Sign up for DDNS service at either www.dyndns.org or www.tzo.com. 2. Log into the browser-based utility (see “How to open the browser-based

3. Click the Setup tab, then click the DDNS page.

4. In the DDNS Service drop-down list, click your DDNS service provider.

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5. Complete the fields with information provided by your DDNS provider,

then click Save Settings. The Status field tells you what actions have been taken.

In this example, the domain name registered with TZO.com is

BronzeEagle953.linksysnet.com. If an Internet camera had been configured

(see “How to set up port forwarding for a single port” on page 52), you could access the camera by typing the domain name into the address bar of your web browser followed by the port number used for the device. For example, if the camera in the above example used port 1024, the URL would be:

BronzeEagle953.linksysnet.com:1024

How to clone a MAC address

For ALL

On any home network, each network device has a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address. Some ISPs register the MAC address of the device (usually a router or a computer) connected directly to the modem. If your computer’s MAC address is registered with your ISP and you do not want to re-register the MAC address, then you can clone the address (assign the registered MAC address of your previous device to your new router). If you want to use the MAC address from an old router that you are replacing with your new router, you should first determine the MAC address of your old router, then manually enter it into your new router.

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For many ISPs that provide dynamic IP addresses automatically, the stored MAC address in the modem is reset each time you reset the modem. If you are installing this router for the first time, reset your modem before connecting the router to your modem. To reset your modem, disconnect power for about one minute, then reconnect power.

To clone a MAC address from your computer:

Setup > MAC Address Clone

2. Click the Setup tab, then click the MAC Address Clone page. 3. Click Enabled.

4. Click either Clone My PC’s MAC or enter the 12-digit MAC address of

your old router.

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How to connect to your corporate office

using a VPN

For ALL

What is a VPN, and do I need to change my router settings? A VPN (Virtual

Private Network) is a network that uses a public network, such as the Internet, to provide secure communications between a remote computer and another network. Corporations often provide VPN access to their networks to enable employees to work from remote offices or while traveling. Most corporate VPNs use the Internet to provide connectivity between remote employees and the corporate network.

For a typical VPN, the corporation installs a VPN gateway on their corporate network. Employees authorized to work remotely connect to the VPN gateway through the Internet using VPN software and security methods provided by their employers. Robust security and authentication schemes ensure a secure connection and access by only authorized users.

The default VPN settings in your router have been configured to pass through (allow) the most common types of VPN protocols, so usually no changes are needed.

To change your VPN passthrough settings:

Security > VPN Passthrough

2. Click the Security tab, then click the VPN Passthrough page. 3. Select each setting that you want to change.

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For brief descriptions of the VPN passthrough field settings, click

Help in the right side of the screen. More complete descriptions are

provided below.

• IPSec Passthrough – IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a suite of

protocols used to implement secure exchange of packets at the IP layer. The VPN clients on the local network can establish an IPSec VPN tunnel through the router. This option is enabled by default.

• PPTP Passthrough – PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) allows

the PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) to be tunneled through an IP network. The VPN clients on the local network can establish a PPTP VPN tunnel through the router. This option is enabled by default.

• L2TP Passthrough – L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) enables

point-to-point sessions using the Internet on the Layer 2 level. The VPN clients on the local network can establish an L2TP VPN tunnel through the router. This option is enabled by default.

4. Click Save Settings to save your changes.

How to optimize your router for gaming

and voice

For ALL

How does my router prioritize traffic to the Internet? Your router has QoS

(Quality of Service) settings that can prioritize traffic from your network out to the Internet. Performance for demanding, real-time applications, such as online gaming, VoIP calls, video streaming, and videoconferencing, can be improved by configuring Internet access priorities.

QoS is applied only to traffic that is uploaded to the Internet. The router cannot control the quality of the traffic after it reaches the Internet.

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To configure QoS:

Applications & Gaming > QoS

2. Click the Applications & Gaming tab, then click the QoS page.

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3. To help manage traffic priority with devices that support WMM, select Enabled under WMM Support. Otherwise, select Disabled.

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WMM (Wi-Fi MultiMedia) Support is a wireless QoS feature based

on the IEEE 802.11e standard. WMM improves quality for audio, video, and voice applications by prioritizing wireless traffic. This feature requires that the wireless client devices in your network also support WMM.

4. To have the router re-send data if an error occurs, select Disabled under

No Acknowledgement. Otherwise, select Enabled.

5. To set access priorities for a specific device or application, select Enabled

next to Internet Access Priority.

6. In the Category drop-down list, select the type of item you want to set a

priority for. A list of installed items fitting that description appears.

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Do not set all priorities to High, because all items will have the same priority, and it would be easier to disable Internet Access Priority for the same result.

• Applications and online Games—Let you assign a priority for an

application or online game.

a) Select the application or online game that you want to add from

the drop-down list, then select the priority.

b) Click Apply, then click Save Settings.

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If you want to add a new application or game, you need to know its port and protocol information (see the application or game’s documentation for help).

• MAC Address and Voice Device—Let you prioritize network traffic

based on the device that is accessing the network. For example, if you want your gaming console to have higher priority than your computer for accessing the Internet, you can assign a higher priority to your game console using its MAC address. We recommend giving any voice devices a high priority.

a) Select MAC Address or Voice Device from the drop-down list,

then enter the name of the device you want to add.

b) Enter the device’s 12-digit MAC address, then select the priority. c) Click Apply, then click Save Settings.

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You can often find a device’s 12-digit MAC address on the bottom of the device. Or, if the device is connected to your network and turned on, you can click the Administration tab in the router’s browser-based utility, click the Local Network page, then click

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7. Configure Upstream Bandwidth.

• To allow the router to detect the maximum, select Auto (default). Auto sets speeds in multiples of 512 Kbps.

• To specify the maximum, select Manual, then select the bandwidth you want it to use.

CAUTIoN

If you specify a maximum bandwidth that is too high, the router cannot apply priorities correctly, and QoS problems may result.

8. When you are done setting priorities, click Save Settings.

How to remotely change your router

settings

For ALL

Why would I want to remotely change my router settings? There may be

times when you want to change parental control settings, or change settings for remote file access, while you are away from home.

To set up remote access:

Administration > Management

2. Click the Administration tab, then click the Management page and

locate the Remote Management Access settings in the middle of the screen.

3. For Remote Management, select Enabled.

4. For Access via, select HTTP (default) or select HTTPS to use SSL (Secure

Socket Layer) to encrypt data transmitted for higher security.

5. To be able to upgrade your router’s firmware remotely, select Enabled

next to Remote Upgrade.

6. To allow remote access from anywhere on the Internet, select Any IP Address (default) next to Allowed Remote IP Address. Otherwise, enter a

range of allowed IP addresses.

7. For Remote Management Port, keep the setting of 8080 (default) unless

you already have a device on your network that uses port 8080 (such as a web camera).

8. Click Save Settings at the bottom of the screen to accept your changes.

9. Click the Administration tab, then click the Management page and take

note of the Internet IP Address and the Remote Management Port settings. You will use this information to access your router remotely.

To access your router remotely:

1. Open a web browser and enter the Internet address of your router, then

press Enter.

• If you selected HTTP for your Access via setting, enter http:// then the IP address.

– OR –

• If you selected HTTPS for your Access via setting above, enter https:// then the IP address.

2. Add a colon (:), then the Remote Management Port number. Example: https://69.192.16.170:8080

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If you enabled the Dynamic Domain Name Service (see “How to find your network on the Internet” on page 25), you could type in your domain name in place of your router’s Internet IP address. For example:

https://BronzeEagle953.linksysnet.com:8080

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How to enable Voice over IP on your

network

For ALL

Do I need to configure Voice over IP? VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a

technology for using the Internet as an interface for telephone communications. To use VoIP, you need to get an account with a VoIP service provider. The VoIP service provider typically provides you with a telephone adapter (TA) that connects to your network. If you do not use your network to make phone calls, you don’t need to change the default settings.

The SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) ALG (Application Layer Gateway) feature allows SIP packets, used by some VOIP service providers, to traverse (go through) your router’s firewall.

To configure the router for VoIP:

2. Click the Administration tab, then click the Management page. 3. If your VoIP service uses SIP, select Enabled next to SIP ALG.

– OR –

If your VoIP service uses other NAT traversal solutions such as STUN (Session Traversal Utilities for NAT), TURN (Traversal Using Relay NAT), or

ICE (Interactive Connectivity Establishment), select Disabled (default).

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You may need to contact your VoIP service provider to determine the type of NAT traversal configuration they use.

How to configure UPnP

For ALL

What is UPnP? UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) allows devices connected

to a network to discover each other and automatically create working configurations. Examples of UPnP-capable devices include web cameras, online gaming applications, and VoIP devices. UPnP is enabled by default.

To configure UPnP:

2. Click the Administration tab, then click the Management page. 3. To use UPnP, select Enabled (default) next to UPnP. Otherwise, select

Disabled.

4. To allow changing router settings while using UPnP, select Enabled

(default) next to Allow Users to Configure. Otherwise, select Disabled.

5. To prevent local network users from disabling your Internet connection

through UPnP, select Disabled (default) next to Allow Users to Disable

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How to use a router as an access point

How can I use this new router as an access point?If you have a large area to cover with your wireless signal, or if part of your home has weak signals due to interference, you can use this router to extend the range of your old router’s wireless network.

For ALL

To set up your new router as an access point:

Setup > Basic Setup

1. Use a network cable to connect this router’sInternetport to the Ethernet orLANport on the router that is connected to your modem.

3. Click the Setup tab, then click theBasic Setuppage.

4. For Internet Connection Type, select Bridge Mode.

5. Click Save Settings to apply the changes. The new router’s LAN IP address

will be changed and obtained from the router that is connected to your modem.

IMPoRTANT

While in Bridge Mode, the following browser-based utility pages will be unavailable:

• Setup tab: IPv6 Setup, DDNS, MAC Address Clone, Advanced Routing

• Security tab: all pages

• Access Restrictions tab: all pages • Applications & Gaming tab: all pages • Administration tab: Log

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How can I use my old router as an access point? If you have a large area to

cover with your wireless signal, or if part of your home has weak signals due to interference, you can use your old router to extend the range of your wireless network. This is a complex process, so this procedure assumes that you have some networking knowledge.

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Check the documentation for your old router. Some brands of routers include either a switch on the outside of the case or a software option to convert it to an access point. If either of these options is available, follow your old router’s instructions to convert it to an access point.

You need to take note of your new router’s settings, then apply some of those settings to the old router so it can work as an access point.

To view your new router’s settings:

Wireless > Wireless Settings Status > Wireless Network Setup > Basic Setup

1. Make sure that your new router is connected to the Internet. 2. In the browser-based utility, click the Wireless tab

3. Click Wireless Settings and take note of the Network Name (SSID),

Security Mode, andPassphrase.

4. Click the Status tab, then click the Wireless Network page and take note

of the Channel.

5. Click the Setup tab, then click the Basic Setup page and take note of

the DHCP server’s IP Address range (192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.149 by default)

To use your old router as an access point:

1. With your computer connected to your old router, log into its

browser-based administration utility. NoTE